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Exploring 3 UX trends for 2017

It’s a new year, which means lots of buzz around what’s next and what’s trending. I reviewed a few (too many) lists, predictions, and articles, and here are three UX trends that are worth exploring a little more.

Microinteractions

A microinteraction refers to a single moment and a single task. It’s about considering each individual user interaction and ensuring each one is useful and maybe even fun.

While microinteractions aren’t a new thing (Dan Saffer’s book, Microinteractions came out in 2013), they began to get more attention in 2016, and that’ll likely continue into 2017 as designers look for ways to take their digital experiences to the next level.

Playful typography and color palettes

With better technologies and improved coding languages, it’s possible to experiment a little more when designing for the web.

Thanks to services like Google Fonts, your options are almost unlimited when it comes to fonts you can design with. However, typography has a big impact on UX, so make sure you’re carefully considering your font choices so they are consistent with the rest of the design, any existing branding, and are easy to read.

Another visual element that has a big effect on UX? Color! The colors you choose have a big impact on overall UX and even conversions on your site. There are many opportunities to play around with color, but make sure your color choices are accessible, especially when it comes to text. This handy tool will check color combinations, and help you build an accessible color palette.

Conversational user interfaces and chatbots

Conversational interfaces got a lot of attention in 2016, especially in the form of chatbots. Some were more successful than others, and the novelty isn’t enough to keep users engaged if the chatbot isn’t useful.

Conversational interfaces can be delightful, helpful, and interesting in the appropriate context, and I think in 2017 we’ll start to see conversational interfaces that are more refined and integrated into the overall experience. Check out Smashing Mag’s best practices for ideas on how to start creating one that your users will love.

Before fully diving into the new year, take some time to reflect on 2016 and test your UX knowledge in this quiz from Nielsen Norman Group.